On Sunday April 21, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., the Most Reverend Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto will be celebrating Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica with the newest Catholics from across the archdiocese.

The 2024 Neophyte Mass is open to everyone, especially neophytes and those who been received into full communion with the Catholic Church, together with their RCIA teams and anyone who has journeyed with them in the process. Due to space restrictions those wishing to attend are asked to register online so that the newly initiated Catholics and their guests can be assured of reserved seating. Those interested in attending can register before April 16 at this link: https://bit.ly/NeophyteMass-RegisterApr2024.

Neophyte is a Greek word meaning ‘newly planted’. The early Christian community adopted that word and applied it to people who had just been initiated at the Easter celebration. It signaled to the Christian community that these people, who had gone through several years of apprenticeship in the Christian way of life, needed specific nurturing, like a new plant that needs particular attention so that it can grow and mature into the beautiful plant God intended it to be. In the contemporary vision of Christian initiation of adults, we apply this same term to those who have just celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. The whole Easter Season is devoted to nurturing the faith of Neophytes and helping them to understand the Sacramental Mysteries of our faith that we celebrate each Sunday and encouraging them to witness to their faith in the world through the activities of their daily life. 

Each year, the Archdiocese of Toronto initiates and receives into full communion hundreds of people from all over the world, including children and entire families. Many parishes throughout the archdiocese assist people seeking to enter the Catholic faith. If you or someone you know is thinking about exploring what it means to live a Catholic Chrisian life contact your local parish for information.

For those unable to join in person, the Mass will be streamed at: https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/live/.

Some of the newest members of our Catholic community: